Prompt and efficient public warnings of natural or manmade disasters empower citizens to take action to save lives, reduce losses, and speed recovery. A wide variety of systems exist or are under development that can deliver warnings to people at risk no matter where they are or what they are doing. What has been missing is an efficient and secure way for all authorized officials to input warnings to these delivery systems. A basic installation of such a national warning capability could have been implemented for less than $10 million since at least 2003. Here are the primary reports, which I have been involved in, that give the background, logic, and implementation details. I participated in writing the GDIN report and led the development of all but the last three PPW reports.

Testimony by Peter L. Ward to the House Select Committee on Homeland
Security, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness and Response,
September 22, 2004